Patcay.com – Meta has revealed its plans to shut down Facebook News services in the United States and Australia starting from April 2024. A significant decline in user numbers is cited as the primary reason behind this decision.
According to Meta’s official statement on Saturday (March 2, 2024), the number of individuals accessing Facebook News in the US and Australia had dropped by over 80% by the end of 2023.
Currently, Facebook News comprises only 3% of the total Facebook user base worldwide. Previously, the service had been discontinued in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in 2023.
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However, the closure of Facebook News will not affect Meta’s products and services in both countries.
Meta explained that Facebook users will still be able to access news through links shared by online media accounts.
“Media companies will retain access to their Facebook accounts and Pages. Online media accounts can still post news to Facebook pages and share articles with the general public through shared links,” Meta emphasized.
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Media companies can also continue to use other Meta products, such as Reels and the Facebook advertising system, reaching a broader audience. They will even retain 100% of the revenue from Facebook.
Although Meta is discontinuing Facebook News services in the US and Australia, this does not impact the terms of the Facebook News agreements with online media in other countries.
“The closure of Facebook News does not diminish Meta’s commitment to providing reliable information and reducing the spread of fake news on their platform,” the company affirmed.
Meta is also partnering with third parties in fact-checking, certified by accreditation bodies like the International Fact-Checking Network, to review and assess information that goes viral on Meta’s social media platforms.